Tottenham Hotspur Ladies FC -

Under-12s reports 2004-05

Spurs U12 produced a five goal blitz in the first half to put the match beyond the reach of  Harvesters who performed much better than the score-line suggests.

Newcomer Andrea Edobor swung in a corner that a defender tried to clear only to see the ball ricochet into the net to set Spurs on their way. This was soon followed by a Lindsey Cockle strike after being cleverly fed by Aimee Rose to make the score 2-0.

Zoë Jackson and Paige Barnard had very good matches in the heart of the defence and it was Paige who capitalised from a corner when the ball dropped to her feet with her back to goal. She turned immediately and blasted the ball past the static defenders into the goal.

Andrea kept her strike rate up when she scored number four after finding space and rounding the goalkeeper. Lindsey then made a fine run through the middle stroking the ball wide of the keeper to make the score 5-0.

Harvesters worked hard in the second half to get something out of the game and Nicola Davey was in good form twice saving at the feet of the attackers. However there was little she could do when Harvesters beat the offside trap to steer the ball home. They then followed that up by scoring a second after some indecision allowed the attacker to break free.

With captain Zoë Jackson restored to defence the game swung back Tottenham's way and the pressure was applied to the home teams third. Aimee Rose put the game to bed when helped herself to a tap in to make the score 6-2.

KEVIN FENN

Hitchin Belles Purples  2    Stevenage Borough Vixens  1     
Enfield Town Ladies  0      Cambridge City  0     
Watford Ladies  3     Garston Blues  0     

Waterlogged pitch.

Hitchin Belles Purples  2    Queens Park Rangers  9    
Cambridge City  5     Harvesters  0     
Stevenage Borough Vixens  1     Watford Ladies  3     

Match postponed.

Garston Blues  2     Hitchin Belles Purples  2    
Queens Park Rangers  8    Enfield Town Ladies  0     
Watford Ladies  1     Harvesters  1     
Stevenage Borough Vixens  0     Cambridge City  8     

After five weeks without a game, the Under-12s season restarted with a good 4-0 away win at Hitchin Belles.

A solitary goal was scored in the first half when Lindsey Cockle met a corner from Sinnead Gurry, her shot taking a slight deflection of a defender before hitting the back of the net.

Spurs started the second half patiently with Hitchin soaking up the pressure before a cross was handled in the box.  Aimee Rose duly converted from the penalty spot.

The two goal-scorers then combined superbly to create number three with Lindsey providing the trickery before unselfishly releasing the ball to Aimee who hit the target with confidence.

Paige Barnard picked up number four when a corner landed at her feet which she promptly despatched over the goal-line.

A good team performance and, as always with Hitchin Belles, a good game played in the right spirit.

Kevin Fenn

Cambridge City  3     Watford Ladies  1     
Queens Park Rangers  9    Stevenage Borough Vixens  2     
Harvesters  7     Garston Blues  1     

A finely balanced match ended in a draw at Frederick Knights this afternoon, as Spurs struggled without a recognised striker.

Lindsey Cockle played despite suffering from a cough and cold, but had to leave the play early on, leaving Tottenham light up front.  However, the midfield had to take on the mantle of the goalscoring and on 18 minutes, Zoë Jackson hit a cleared corner true and hard, but although it beat the Watford keeper, it bounced back off the angle of crossbar and post.  Zoë broke forward eight minutes later to hit a low drive that the keeper got down well to keep out.

While Nicola Davey had been relatively untroubled in the first half, five minutes into the second, her rush from goal brought a mis-timed challenge that brought down a Watford forward in the area.  The resulting penalty was despatched to give the Hornets the lead.  Things could have got worse after 14 minutes of the second half, but Nicola made a brave save when a Watford forward was through one-on-one, and then took a knock when diving on the ball as it rebounded out.

With ten minutes left, Sinnead Gurry played in Rhiannon Kelly, who hit a shot that the keeper saved and then Andrea Edobor struck a fine 30-yarder that the keeper leapt high to palm away.

After 21 minutes of the second half, Zoë hit a shot just wide, but in the following action, Nicola kicked long downfield and Zoë broke down the left hand side of the pitch to slide a low shot past the visiting goalie for the equalising goal.

A winner almost arrived twice in the closing stages, when corners caused panic in the Watford area.  The first saw a defender try to clear, but slice the ball into the face of the keeper and the second dropped at the feet fo Laila El Haddad, who touched it back for Katie Goodland to have shot that went wide.

The game was played in a good spirit and the draw was probably the right result on the day.

Barking Ladies  1     Hitchin Belles Purples  3    
Garston Blues  1     Enfield Town Ladies  3     
Queens Park Rangers  3    Cambridge City  2     

A goal from Stevenage Borough Vixens in the seventh minute of this League Cup quarter final tie shocked Tottenham into action, before they finally overcame their well-drilled opponents.

The Vixens had done their homework and squeezed the play and closed Spurs down quickly to prevent them playing their natural passing game.  This ploy restricted Tottenham to just a couple of shots in the opening stages from Rhiannon Kelly and Andrea Ebodor, both well saved by the Stevenage keeper.  The visitors goal came from a long through ball that caught the Spurs defence out and it left the forward the shoot past Nicola Davey and score.

It was nearly two when a long free-kick fell to a Stevenage player, who shot over the bar.  However, Tottenham got back into the game in the 18th minute when Aimee Rose broke through and struck a shot against the bar, with the rebound falling to Lucky Di Biasio, who hit the loose ball into the net for the equaliser.

The game was being fought out in midfield, with a scrappy section of the game setting in, but Lindsey Cockle broke away and tried to lob the keeper just before half-time, but she grabbed the ball well.  In injury time, Nicola hit a goal-kick straight at a Vixens player and she redeemed her error by saving the shot by sitting on it.

The half-time team talk at the break must have inspired Spurs, as they scored within 45 seconds of the restart.  A neat move from a throw-in on the right saw Andrea flick the ball around a defender for Rhiannon to take the ball around the keeper to score Tottenham's second goal.

This goal sparked Spurs into life and Aimee Rose drew a good save from the keeper after a break on the left wing and this was followed by another attack up the same flank, with Nicola distributing the bal well and Tessa Osborne's pass out of defence finding Rhiannon, who struck a powerful shot beyond the reach of the goalie to make it 3-1 in the eighth minute of the second half.  It was soon four, just a minute later, as Sinnead Gurry hit a fine shot from fully 35 yards that flew into the top of the net with great power.

With Tottenham pressing forward at every opportunity, the Vixens defence were doing well to stem the tide, but tired and when Aimee ran through in the 18th minute, her shot beat the keeper to make it 5-1 and only a matter of inches stopped Zoë Jackson adding to the total with a shot that flew narrowly wide of the post.

With three minutes left, some lovely one touch football involving Andrea and Aimee set up a chance for Zoë to get the goal she deserved, with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.  As the game entered time for stoppages, Laila El Haddad produced one of many good runs on the right wing and played in Aimee to hit her shot high into the roof of the net to make the final score 7-1.

It was a second half performance of good passing and movement that finally brought the result Tottenham's way, but the Vixens played well with some good passing and organisation that made it a good game.

Cambridge City  1     Queens Park Rangers  0    

Spurs Ladies U12 travelled to Mile End stadium this weekend to play the London Youth FA Cup final and lost by 3-1 to Long Lane Juniors B.

The match was a little disappointing with some below par performances and it was Long Lane who had the greater urgency and desire.

The start mirrored last year's final as Spurs found it hard to get out of first gear and Long Lane took full advantage scrambling home a goal after four minutes.  Soon afterwards they doubled their lead with the forward easing the ball past Nicola Davey.  Rhiannon Kelly tried to take the play to Long Lane as she made some notable runs at the defence but unfortunately her efforts went unrewarded.

The second half started brighter and with the wind behind them they forced the play into Long Lane's half. Rhiannon Kelly and Katie Goodland tested the defence making some good runs, whilst Andrea Edobor resorted to shooting from distance with one notable shot that went over the bar.  It was Katie who eventually made the breakthrough when her determination got her into the danger area and she finished clinically with a shot from close range.

The goal prompted a spell of Spurs attacks, but Long Lane were organised and hard to break down and with a minute to go Spurs were caught out at the back as they pushed forward in search of the equaliser.  In the melee Tessa Osborne was injured and play was held up for a while due to initial concerns to her injury.

Full credit to the winners Long Lane who deserve their moment of glory.

Kevin Fenn.

Watford Ladies  4     Enfield Town Ladies  0     

Spurs Ladies U12s qualified for the league cup final with a second half performance that swept Watford off their feet.  They richly deserved the applause at the end of the game for a fantastic fight-back in a game where earlier they had looked dead and buried.

The game started poorly for Spurs when the back line was breached by a cleverly timed run and the forward made good use of her pace to put her chance away.  This was followed by another soon afterwards with the forward line causing Spurs many problems.  A defensive re-organisation proved successful with Jodie Fenn effective in an unfamiliar role.

Spurs reverted to a 4-4-2 formation and introduced Aimee Rose to the forward line to partner Lindsey Cockle up front.  This proved successful as the girls began to wake up.

Rhiannon Kelly was a constant menace to Watford making several runs into the last third trying desperately to get Spurs back in the game.

The goal eventually came when Lindsey Cockle cleverly broke the offside trap for a run and shot on goal and Aimee followed up with her predatory instincts to tap home the rebound from the goalkeepers save.

With Spurs back in the game and Watford on the back foot Spurs started to string together some passes together and this ultimately brought further reward with Laila's superb ball to Lindsey, who set up Aimee to score the equaliser two minutes from half time.

Whilst Spurs had settled for a draw at half time, Watford had other ideas and their immediate pressure brought reward when Nicola Davey lost control of the ball which fell invitingly to Watford to score just on the half time whistle.

The disappointment of conceding so late seemed to inspire the girls as they returned to the pitch for the second half and from the kick off they went on the offensive.  Rhiannon Kelly and Laila El Haddad caused plenty of problems for the defenders and the girls combined for the equaliser when Rhiannon's cross fell invitingly for Laila, whose powerful shot flew in.

This brought a spell of constant Spurs pressure and an amazing eight minutes that was to seal the match.  The inspired Laila chased a lost cause and won a corner that was to bring the fourth goal with Paige Barnard scoring from close range.

This was followed by a Sinnead Gurry special lobbing the goalkeeper from distance to make the score 5-3.

The remainder of the match was end to end excitement with Watford always threatening, but Spurs held their nerve and progressed to the final.

Kevin Fenn

Another day another epic !  This was another big game for the girls with QPR on the verge of clinching the championship and Spurs determined to prolong the inevitable.  It was also a good time to test the progress of the players against a very good team.

Spurs made a solid start against a very lively QPR team who forced the play from the kick off into the Spurs half.  With Zoë Jackson and Paige Barnard marshalling the defence there was a sense of resolve that had been missing in previous weeks.  Both Tessa Osborne and Jodie Fenn epitomised that determination with some fine shadowing to thwart the visitors and when Jodie was injured Olivia Rodney did an excellent job for the team covering the right back role at a difficult time in the match.

Unfortunately the champions in waiting eventually breached the defence down the left hand flank and the striker cleverly crossed the ball across the goalkeeper into the corner of the net to put QPR in the ascendancy.

Although Spurs were disappointed to be a goal down they resumed their focus and applied pressure on the QPR back four.  The goal eventually came when Rhiannon Kelly hit a tidy shot into a gaping net from the six-yard line.

The football flowed from end to end but it was QPR who took their chance when Nicola Davey pushed a shot wide only for a QPR striker to be alert for the tap-in.

Again Spurs dug deep and pressurised again eventually forcing a corner.  Sinnead swung the ball in, a defender headed the ball across her goalmouth and Paige Barnard made a simple header for the equaliser.

Soon after the break Spurs took control of the game with a period of sustained pressure that saw Katie Goodland and Rhiannon Kelly causing trouble on the flanks and Zoë Jackson and Sinnead Gurry pulling the strings in midfield.  However, it was Lindsey Cockle who was proving a handful for the defence and her clever turn and run outwitted the defenders and her shot was squeezed into the net only for the lineman to flag offside.

The disappointment turned to delight moments later when Rhiannon was brought down on the edge of the box and a powerful Sinnead Gurry shot was prodded over the line by a grateful Lindsey.

With their confidence high, Spurs went looking to put the game beyond QPR and again they left themselves exposed at the back.  Disappointingly, they conceded an equaliser after Nicola bravely raced to close down an attack only for the ball to bounce in front of the goal for an easy tap in.

This was a really good game against a good footballing team and in the end a fair result for both teams.

Kevin Fenn

Harvesters  6     Hitchin Belles Purples  1    
Stevenage Borough Vixens  1      Enfield Town Ladies  4     

A tough local derby saw Spurs struggle to find their tempo in the first half, but playing with the wind in the second, they ran in a good win to consolidate their fourth place in the table.

The early action saw Enfield have the clearer cut chances, with a seventh minute shot coming off the post, but with Rhiannon Kelly causing problems up the left wing, the potential from that flank was always present.  Her first effort in the 12th minute hit the side-netting and then four minutes later, her cross into the near post saw the Enfield keeper get there just before Lindsey Cockle.

However, Tottenham were indebted to their goalkeeper Nicola Davey, when she narrowed the angle as a visiting forward ran in and managed to get a vital touch on her shot to take the ball just wide of the post.

Just before the interval, Rhiannon managed to steal a loose ball away from the Enfield goalie and a goalmouth scramble ensued, with just a corner resulting from it.

Spurs had been experimenting with a few players in new positions and Olivia Rodney was doing well in an unusual forward position, with the team adapting quite well to the new formation.  Kelly found the left wing role to her liking, with a seventh minute run that saw her cross into the six yard box leave Lindsey a simple tap-in to open the scoring.

Enfield hit back straight away and Nicola was called upon to make a low save followed by a point blank stop from the corner that resulted from the initial save.  This geed Spurs up and when Zoë Jackson's high, bouncing ball caused hesitation in the Enfield defence, Lindsey took advantage and ran the ball into the area and hit a shot past the keeper to make it 2-0.  A few minutes later, she almost completed a hat-trick, when a corner was cleared to Paige Barnard and her shot was flicked on by Cockle, but the keeper was sharp enough to change direction to save.

Laila El Haddad was also finding space on the wing and her right wing run ended with a chip that flew just over.  With 19 minutes of the half behind them, Spurs almost wrapped up the points, when Kelly's low cross in from the left was clinically dispatched by Aimee Rose on the volley for the third goal.  In the next attack, Laila made a good run on the right and played the ball into Aimee, who turned and hit a shot that was only denied a goal by the post.

With time running out, Enfield sought to salvage something from the game and Jodie Fenn had to kick away the ball from in front of the goal, but Spurs were unable to prevent a goal in the last minute when Davey saved as a player ran through and the rebound was put into the net, despite a diving attempt from Jackson on the line.

It was a good win against an Enfield side, who played some good football, but the goalscoring cutting edge of the Tottenham strikers made the difference on the day.

Harvesters  6     Hitchin Belles Purples  1    
Stevenage Borough Vixens  1      Enfield Town Ladies  4     

Spurs Ladies U12 warmed up for their cup final next week beating nine-man Barking by eight goals to nil.

Spurs made hard work of the two man advantage in the first half eventually taking in a two goal lead at half time thanks to two tap-ins from Lindsey Cockle.

After the break Spurs came out determined to have a better half than the first and scored straight from the kick off with Aimee Rose finishing off a good move.

During the second half the Barking girls began to tire and Spurs began to take advantage. Rhiannon Kelly lobbed the goalkeeper for number four and Aimee finished off a splendid passing move involving Sinnead Gurry and Lindsey Cockle for number five.

With Paige Barnard, Lucky di Biasio and Zoë Jackson dominant at the back and Jodie Fenn and Sinnead Gurry finding space in midfield Spurs started to take control with good link up play.

Katie Goodland added number six when she found space on the left, rounded the defender and placed the ball past the goalkeeper into the net.

Andrea Edobor, playing in a deeper role, did eventually exploit space down the left side and hit number seven with an excellent lob from distance that the goalkeeper had no chance of reaching.

Lindsey finished the game with a hat-trick when Rhiannon's cross fell to her feet and she despatched into the net.

Kevin Fenn

Harvesters  -     Stevenage Borough Vixens  -